Exploring the Truth Behind The Conjuring

The Conjuring is a horror movie that has become a household name. It’s the dark tale of a family who moves into a haunted house and is terrorized by paranormal activity. The film was inspired by the real-life experiences of the Perron family, who claimed to have lived through a haunting in the 1970s.

The movie grippingly and terrifyingly portrays their experiences, but how much of it is true? In this article, we will examine the details of The Conjuring’s haunted story and compare them to the actual events that took place in the Perron family’s real-life ghost-infested farmhouse.

So, let’s take a closer look at the real haunting that inspired The Conjuring and see how it stacks up against the movie/s depiction of events.

Statistics, figures, and facts on the success of The Conjuring film

• Box office success: The Conjuring was released in 2013 and grossed over $319 million worldwide. It was a huge financial success, with a production budget of only $20 million.
• Critical acclaim: The film was also a critical success, with an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 83/100 rating on Metacritic.
• Sequels and spin-offs: The success of The Conjuring led to several sequels and spin-offs, including The Conjuring 2, Annabelle, The Nun, and The Curse of La Llorona.
• Cultural impact: The film has become a cultural phenomenon, with a dedicated fan base and a significant presence in popular culture. It has spawned merchandise, Halloween costumes, and even a haunted house attraction.
• Inspired by real events: The film’s success is partly due to its claim of being based on true events. The real-life paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, which the film is based on, have been the subject of controversy and skepticism.

The Conjuring’s shot to fame can be attributed to its effective blend of horror, suspense, and realism, as well as its compelling portrayal of real-life paranormal activity. It has become a defining entry in the horror genre and has left a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.

The Conjuring: A Spoiler-Filled Synopsis

In 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters moved into a farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. However, strange occurrences begin to happen, including their dog refusing to enter the house and a boarded-up cellar. Paranormal events occur, including all the clocks stopping at 3:07 AM and Carolyn waking up with unexplained bruises. After encountering a malevolent spirit, Carolyn contacts Ed and Lorraine Warren, who investigate the house and discover that it once belonged to an accused witch named Bathsheba Sherman, who had sacrificed her baby to the devil and cursed all who took her land.

The Warrens conduct an initial investigation, which reveals evidence of the haunting, and they seek authorization from the Catholic Church to perform an exorcism. However, they are told that the Perron family isn’t eligible for approval from the church. Bathsheba possesses Carolyn fully, and the Warrens hear a spirit luring one of the daughters into a secret passage. Lorraine discovers the spirit of a woman that Bathsheba had previously possessed and used to kill her child. Bathsheba attacks one of the daughters, and the Warrens conclude that an exorcism is necessary to lift the curse.

The Perron’s Case – Fact or Fiction?

Who was the real Bathsheba Sherman?

Bathsheba Sherman was a real person who lived in Rhode Island during the 19th century. She was born in 1812 and married a man named Judson Sherman in 1844. The couple had four children, but only one survived to adulthood. Bathsheba was accused of the death of an infant in her care, although it is not clear if the child was her own or one that she was looking after. She was brought to trial but was ultimately acquitted due to lack of evidence. Despite this, rumors persisted that she was a witch and had performed dark rituals on the property where she lived. Bathsheba was branded a Satanist, and it sort of stuck.

Bathsheba died in 1885 at the age of 73 — and never managed to lift that stigma off her personage. She is buried next to her husband, Judson Sherman, in the Harrisville Cemetery in Burrillville, Providence County, Rhode Island. Due to the popularity of the Conjuring movie, her headstone has been vandalized and repaired numerous times. 

The claim that Bathsheba Sherman was a witch is based solely on local folklore, as there is no concrete evidence to support it. The suspicion arose when a baby in her care died from a mortal wound caused by a large sewing needle impaled at the base of its skull. Although the townspeople accused Bathsheba of sacrificing the infant as an offering to the devil, she was found innocent of any wrongdoing by a court due to a lack of evidence.

The Real Person’s Case

The true tale of The Conjuring starts with the first film—its franchise, since now everything is connected—which focuses on the Perron family and their tribulations. In January 1971, the family moved into a 14-room superdeluxe farmhouse on the outskirts of Harrisville, Rhode Island. Almost immediately, Carolyn, Roger, and their five girls started to encounter strange things, paranormal happenings, and oddball circumstances—the house had a couple of kinks and features that had not been disclosed during escrow.

The hauntings started small — then, like all hauntings, they ramped up and escalated. Carolyn would start to notice that the broom went on excursions or appeared to move around of its own free will. She then starts to hear the noise of something, something sharp and rasping, scraping against the kettle in the kitchen. She’d also uncover small stacks of dirt in the center of a newly cleaned kitchen floor.

Carolyn allegedly started to research the history of the farm. There, she discovered that the region had been owned by the same family for almost eight generations. And, as is the case with hauntings, many of them had died under weird, mysterious, even horrible circumstances. For example, the nearby creek was like catnip to small kids who didn’t know how to swim — several of the children drowned in its icy depth. And, as if that wasn’t;t enough to give the Perrons the willies and demand their money back, another kid has been murdered, and a couple of them had hanged themselves in the attic.

And then there was Bathsheba, the spirit depicted in the film. “Whoever the spirit was, she perceived herself to be mistress of the house, and she resented the competition my mother posed for that position,” said Andrea Perron, the oldest of the five girls.

The Perrons, once the Warrens came in, were focused on Bathsheba, certain that it was her demonic force that was tormenting them.

Who Were The Warrens?

Ed and Lorraine Warren were a real-life couple who were famous for their work as paranormal investigators and demonologists. Their whole profile and M.O. were highly controversial and have been the subject of many debates, but there is no denying that they were instrumental in shaping our understanding of the paranormal.

Ed and Lorraine Warren were perhaps best known for their work on the Amityville Horror case. In 1976, they investigated the Lutz family’s claims of demonic activity in their home in Amityville, New York. The Warrens claimed that the house was built on an ancient Indian burial ground and that this was the reason for the haunting. They also claimed that a demonic presence had possessed one of the family members. The case was highly publicized and controversial, but it helped to cement the Warrens’ reputation as experts in the field of paranormal investigations.

The Warrens’ work has been the subject of many debates and controversies. Some critics have accused them of being frauds who exploited people’s fears for profit. Others have accused them of being overly credulous and of interpreting natural phenomena as evidence of the paranormal. Despite these criticisms, the Warrens were undeniably influential in shaping our understanding of the paranormal.

While there are certainly reasons to be skeptical of their claims, many people believe in their abilities and the validity of their work. It’s possible that the truth lies somewhere in between, and the Warrens were sincere in their beliefs but also aware of the marketability of their work. Regardless of where one falls on this issue, it’s clear that Ed and Lorraine Warren left a lasting impact on popular culture and the field of paranormal investigation.

Analyzing Other Reports Related to the Perrons’ Claims

In addition to the reports from the Perron family and the investigation by Ed and Lorraine Warren, there are several other reports related to the alleged demonic activity at the Perron farmhouse.

One such report comes from paranormal investigator Carl Johnson, who was brought in by the Warrens to assist with the investigation. Johnson claimed to have witnessed a variety of paranormal occurrences at the farmhouse, including unexplained cold spots, the sound of voices coming from empty rooms, and the presence of an unseen entity that seemed to follow him throughout the house. He also reported seeing a misty figure in the shape of a woman in the living room, which he believed was the spirit of Bathsheba Sherman.

Another report comes from a group of paranormal investigators who visited the farmhouse in the 1970s, prior to the Warrens’ involvement. The group, which included a psychic medium, claimed to have witnessed a variety of paranormal phenomena, including objects moving on their own, unexplained noises, and strange smells. They also claimed to have communicated with several spirits, including a child named “Manny” and an older woman who they believed was Bathsheba Sherman.

Despite these additional reports, many skeptics remain unconvinced of the Perron family’s claims of demonic activity. Some have pointed out inconsistencies in the family’s stories, while others have suggested that the alleged paranormal phenomena could be easily explained by natural causes or hoaxes.

Uncovering Unverified Accounts & Reports Surrounding The Conjuring

There have been various allegations and reports claiming that the haunting depicted in the film “The Conjuring” was a hoax or a fake. While it is difficult to determine the veracity of these claims, some of the most prominent ones are:

• The Perron family exaggerated or fabricated the haunting for financial gain: Some skeptics have claimed that the Perron family, or at least some members of it, embellished or entirely made up the haunting story to sell books, merchandise, or profit from the film adaptation. The Perrons have denied these allegations, stating that they never sought to profit from their experiences and that they went public with their story only to help others who may be experiencing similar phenomena.
• Ed and Lorraine Warren were frauds: As mentioned earlier, some critics have accused the Warrens of being hucksters who exploited people’s fears and beliefs in the paranormal for their own financial gain. They have been accused of using the Perron case, as well as other alleged hauntings they investigated, to promote their books and lectures. However, supporters of the Warrens argue that they genuinely believed in the paranormal and that they helped many people who were suffering from unexplained phenomena.
• The Perron house was not haunted: Some skeptics have suggested that the Perron house was not haunted at all and that the family’s experiences were the result of mundane factors such as natural gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other environmental factors. The Perrons and the Warrens have maintained that they ruled out these possibilities and that the phenomena they witnessed were supernatural in nature.
• The haunting was exaggerated for the film: Some viewers of “The Conjuring” have claimed that the film exaggerated or embellished the Perron story for dramatic effect. Some have pointed out that the film adds a demonic possession subplot that was not present in the original story, while others have claimed that the film portrays the Perron family as being more isolated and helpless than they actually were. However, it is not uncommon for films to take liberties with real-life events in order to make them more compelling for audiences.

It is important to note that none of these claims have been definitively proven. The veracity of the Perron haunting, as well as the legitimacy of the Warrens’ investigations, remains a subject of debate and controversy.

Sources:

https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/conjuring.php

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3830089217/

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3830089217/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/07/22/conjuring-true-story-perron/2457209/

https://www.ctpost.com/projects/2021/visuals/ed-lorraine-warren/